The Fourth Doctor Adventures: Metamorphosis weaves a rich tapestry of danger and intrigue. Released in June and available exclusively on the Big Finish Productions website until the end of July, this audio box set is comprised of three brand-new Doctor Who tales, imbued with tantalising twists!
Starring the legendary Tom Baker alongside Christopher Naylor and Eleanor Crooks as companions Harry and Naomi, this collection presents a trio of thrilling two-part adventures penned by Aurora Fearnley, Matthew Sweet, and Lisa McMullin. The Doctor faces foes new and old, deadly plots, and a healthy dose of mystery.
The journey begins with Matryoshka by Aurora Fearnley. The TARDIS is dragged to Earth in the 1900s by a mysterious force, leading the Doctor and co. to the enigmatic Lord Pearson, inventor of toys. A game of hide and seek soon becomes a deadly challenge as they face the Toymaker, brilliantly voiced by Annette Badland, who manages to capture the egotism and playfulness of the Toymaker brilliantly, with subtle changes to her vocal mannerisms as she flips between him and her second character Madame Bisset.
Fearnley’s script is masterfully eerie, evoking childhood fears of creepy toys, a sentiment echoed by Eleanor Crooks, who recalls her own childhood terror of toys in a backstage interview. The story perhaps doesn’t make as much use of Harry and Naomi as it could, sidelining them in favour of exploring the guest characters, but Christopher Naylor and Eleanor Crooks still give dynamic performances that showcase their characters’ emotional depths and sharp instincts. While not a direct tie-in to the return of the toymaker in The Giggle, it can certainly be head-canoned as a fun prequel!
Matthew Sweet’s The Caged Assassin opens with the bizarre yet captivating scenario of a radiation-dosed tiger in the TARDIS. The Doctor and his companions soon find themselves entangled with Charles Jamrach, purveyor of exotic animals. Sweet explores the true story of this real-life collector of exotic animals, as well as poet Dante Rossetti, voiced by Mark Gatiss. Sweet’s narrative, described by Baker as “a delightful blend of whimsy and muscle”, unravels a chilling plot occurring within Jamrach’s menagerie, which unbeknownst to mankind, conceals a bloodthirsty terror…
The storyline may be slightly lacking, with the Doctor and companions seeming simply to react to the series of strange occurrences around them rather than displaying enough sense of urgency at the situation, and the historical elements clashing somewhat with the overall sci-fi plot, but it’s nonetheless an entertaining tale.
The titular Metamorphosis by Lisa McMullin brings the box set to a strong conclusion. The planet Jaxus is facing a mysterious foe as its inhabitants start to vanish. When Naomi too is captured, she finds herself in a prison controlled by the Doctor’s old nemesis, the Master, portrayed with signature sinister charm by Geoffrey Beevers. The stakes are high as the Doctor must once again thwart the Master’s plans.
Director Jamie Anderson orchestrates these adventures with a keen sense of pacing and suspense. The sound design by Toby Hrycek-Robinson and Iain Meadows, paired with Jamie Robertson’s evocative music, immerses listeners in each unique setting, from the eerie confines of the Toymaker’s lair to the exotic world of Jamrach’s menagerie.
Tom Baker continues to embody the Doctor perfectly, while the supporting cast, including Mark Gatiss, Michael Fenton Stevens and Lydia West, add further talent to the ensemble, delivering some memorable and hilarious performances.
Big Finish doesn’t disappoint – with some thoroughly engaging narratives, solid performances and meticulous production, this series expertly captures the essence of the Fourth Doctor’s era.
